Rope-making machine.



N. E. SHERWOOD.

ROPE MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 19. l9l6.

1,215,584. Patented Feb. 13,1917.

E. lllllllllllllllllll llill l lfll l Qvihwm Haney UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NATHAN E. SHERWOOD, OF HIGHLAND PARK, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO PLYMOUTH MOTOR CASTINGS COMPANY, OF PLYMOUTH,- MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

ROPE-MAKING MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NATHAN E. SHERWOOD, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Highland Park, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented a new and Improved Rope-Making Machine, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to rope making machines and its object is to provide a simple, easily operated device of this character which can be put upon the market at a very low cost. Among its important features are an improved frame whereby the movable elements are rigidly mounted upon a wooden or other support, and improved combined hooks and twisting gears whereby more strength is secured than heretofore and whereby sockets are formed for the reception of the heads of studs upon which the gears are mounted. The invention also consists in the details of construction shown, described and claimed.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the device in operation. Fig. 2 is e a side elevation of the frame, parts being broken away. Fig. 3 is a view at right angles to Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through one of the combined twisting gears and hooks in assembled relation to its pivot stud. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the. gears. Fig. 6 is a similar View of one of the hooks.

Similar reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

The frame or supporting means for the improved device comprises a pressure plate 1 and a pinion supporting plate 2 that are spaced from each other and joined by an arcuate connecting plate 3 formed integral therewith. In use this frame is applied to the edge of a wooden upright or other member in an obvious manner and, upon being drawn to the right in Figs. 1 and 2, lugs 5 upon the inner face .of the pressure plate seat themselves firmly into the wood, where upon the take-up screws 6, which are threaded in the plate 2, are turned to take up slack. The support thus formed is much better adapted to carry the combined pull (toward the right, Fig. l) and twist to which it is necessarily subjected than would be the case Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

Application filed April 19, 1916. Serial No. 92,075.

were the. screws passed through the pressure plate, since they are thus relieved of the larger proportion of the stress.

The plates 1 and 2 are bossed at 7 and 8 and perforated to receive a drive shaft 9 to which, adjacent the pressure plate 1, a handle 10 is secured, preferably by a cotter pin 11. Beyond the plate 2 the shaft passes through a main gear 12 which may be secured thereto for rotary movement by means of a cotter pin 14 that passes through slots formed in an annular boss 15 on the face of the gear. The end of the shaft is bent to form a hook 16.

The plate 2 is preferably in the form of a four-pointed star or spider, the apexes of which have riveted or otherwise rigidly secured thereto short studs 17 having heads 18. Interposed between the heads and the plate 2 and in mesh with the driving gear are hollow pinions 19 having tubular outwardly extending flanges 20, the outer ends 21-of which are reduced in thickness to form an annular internal shoulder 22 whereon the base flanges 23 of the twisting hooks 24 are seated. In order to cause the'hooks to ro tate with the corresponding gears,the flanges 20 are slotted at 25 to receive projections 26 on the flanges 23. When the hooks are assembled in the gears, the ends 21 of the flanges 20 are bent inwardly to firmly retain the parts together. If desired, balls 28 may be interposed between the heads 18 of the pinions and the adjoining faces of the gears.

The gear-hooks so constructed are exceedingly cheap and when mounted in the manner indicated possess an important advantage over ordinary constructions in that they readily accommodate themselves to the converging stresses imposed upon them and therefore incur much less resistance through friction. They are also much stronger than gear-hooks previously in use since the hooks are braced throughout the circumference of 'their bases and not merely at opposite points.

In use the device is mounted upon its support preferably in proximity to a swivel hook 30 from which a flexible member 31 leads over a guide 32 to a weight 33. A sufficient number of strands of flexible material such as twine, yarn or wire are then looped back and forth between the hooks 24 and the hook 34: on the swivel, these strands being passed throughgrooves 35 and under hooks 36 on a tapering or comcal strand guide 38 which has a handle 39 whereby it may be controlled and tothe latter of which a weight 40 may be attached when the operator is away. The handle 10 being turned, the\ strands are twisted to form cords 4:1 and the latter in turn are twisted into the finished rope or cable 42, during which operation the guide 38 is gradually forced to the left (F1g. l) in a well known manner. The final tw sts to the rope may be given after detaching the vends of the cords from the hooks 2i and slipping them over the hook 16 the latter also is of value in that a wire or other core (not shown) for the rope may,

' supportlng, plate, said connecting plate being spaced from'the shaft and'inclosing the beattached thereto in the usual way.'

It will be understood that other devices may be substituted for the guide 38, swivel hook 30, guide 32 and weight 33.

I claim 1. Means for twisting flexible strands into cords and the latterinto a cable comprising a supporting frame including a rear pressure plateand a front pinion supporting plate between which a support is adapted to be received, bearing means rigid with and supported by the pinion supportingplate on the front side thereof, combined pinions and twisting hooks rotatably supported on the front side of said 'pinion supporting plate solely by said bearing means, and adjustable means carried by the pinion supporting plate, for taking up slack between said plates and the support.

2. Means for twisting flexible strands into cords and the-latter into a cable comprising a supporting frame including a rear pressure plate and a front pinion supporting plate between which a support is adapted to be received, bearing means rigid with and supported by the pinion supporting plate on the front side thereof, combined pinions and twisting hooks rotatably supported on the front side of said pinion supporting plate solely by said bearing means, and a pair of adjusting screws carried by the pinion supporting plate for taking up slack between said plate and support.

3. Means for twisting flexible strands into cords and the latter into a cable comprising a supporting frame including a rear pressure plate and a front pinion supporting plate between which a support is adapted to be received, said pressure plate having lugs thereon on the side nearest the p nion supporting plate, bearing means with and supported by the pinion supporting plate on the front s'de thereof, combined pinions and twisting ooks rotatably supported on the front side of said pinion supporting plate solely by said bearing means, and adjustable means carried by the pinion supporting; plate for taking up slack between said plates and the support.

4. Means for twisting flexible strands into cords and the latter into a cable comprising a supporting frame including a rear pressure plate and a front, pinion supportingplate between which a support is adapted to be received, bearing means non-rotatable in respect to and supported by said pinion supporting plate and projecting fromthe latter on the front side thereof, said pressure plate and pinion supporting plate having alined perforated bosses thereon, a main driving shaft passing through the plates and bearing in the bosses, said frame also including a connecting plate for joining the pressure plate and the pinionand twisting books on the front side of the pinion supporting plate, a driving shaft passing through the frame, a driving gear on the shaft, said gear and said combinedpinions and twisting hooks being in mesh,

said combined pinions and twisting hooks each including two parts, one a hook and the other a pinion, said pinions including slotted tubular flanges on the front side thereof, andsaid hooks having lugs received in said slots, the metal of the flanges, being bent about the hooks to retain the latter in position on the pinions, and studs, on which the pinions are revoluble, projecting from the pinion supporting plate, said studs having heads received within the tubular flanges of the pinions. 1

6. Means for twisting flexible strands into cords and the latter into a cable comprising a supporting frame which includes a rear pressure plate and a front pinion supporting plate between which a support is adapted to be received, combined pinions and twisting hooks on the front side of the pinion supporting plate, a driving shaft pass-- ing through the frame, a driving gear on the shaft, said gear and said combined pinions and twisting hooks being in mesh, said combined pinions and twisting hooks each including two parts, one a hook and the-other a pinion, said pinions including tubular flanges on the front side thereof and said hooks having base portions received withinasupporting frame which includes a rear.

pressure plate and a front pinion supporting plate between which a support is adapted to be-received, combined pinions and twisting hooks on the front side of the pinion supporting plate, a driving shaft passing through the frame, a driving gear on the shaft, said gear and said combined pinions and twisting hooks being in mesh, said com-- bined pinions and twisting hooks each including two parts, one a hook and the other a pinion, said pinions including tubular flanges on the front side thereof and said hooks having base portions received within and non-rotatable in respect to said flanges, the flanges being bent about the base portions of the hooks to retain the latter in position on the pinions, studs, on which the pinions are revoluble, projecting from the pinion supporting plate, said studs having heads received within the tubular flanges of the pinions, and anti-friction thrust bearings interposed between the heads of the studs and the gears.

8. Means for twisting flexible strands into cords and the latter into a cable comprising a supporting frame, studs projecting from one side of the frame, a driving gear on the same side of the frame, combined pinions and twisting hooks in mesh with the gear,

said combined pinions and twisting hooks each including two members, one a hook and the other a pinion, said pinions including tubular flanges on the side most remote from the frame and said hooks having base portions received within and non-rotatable in respect to said flanges, the flanges being bent about the base portions of the hooks to retain the latter in position on the pinions, said studs having headsreceived with-- 9. Means for twisting flexible strands into cords and the latter into a cable comprising a supporting frame having studs rigid therein the tubular flanges of the pinions.

with and projecting from one face thereof, combined gears and twisting hooks supported solely by said studs-and being rotatable in respect thereto, said studs including means for preventing the combined gears and twisting hooks from being drawn axially away from the frame, whereby friction due to stresses applied to the combined gears and twisting hooks at an angle to the axes thereof is largely avoided.

10. Means for twisting flexible strands into cords and the latter into a cable comprising a pressure plate and a pinion supporting plate between which a support is adapted to be received, bearing means supported on the pinion supporting plate on the side thereof most remote from the pressure plate, combined pinions and twisting hooks rotatably supported on and solely by said bearing means, said bearing means including means for preventing the combined gears and twisting hooks from being pulled axially therefrom, whereby friction due to pulling stresses applied to the combined gears and twisting hooks at an angle thereto is largely avoided.

11. Means for twisting flexible strands into cords and the latter into cable comprising a supporting frame, bearing means projecting from one side thereof, said bearing means being normally fixed against rotation in respect to said frame, combined pinions and twisting hooks rotatably supported on and solely by said bearing means, said bearing means including means for preventing the combined gears and twisting hooks from being removed axially therefrom, whereby friction due to pulling stresses applied'to the combined gears and twisting hooks at an angle thereto is largely avoided.

12. Means for twisting flexible strands into cords and the latter into cable comprising a supporting frame, bearing means rigid with the frame and projecting from one side thereof, combined pinions and twisting hooks rotatably supported on and solely by said bearing means, said bearing means including means for preventing the combined gears and twisting hooks from being removed axially therefrom, whereby friction due to pulling stresses applied to the combined gears and twisting hooks at an angle thereto is largely avoided.

NATHAN E. SHERWOOD. 

